Animal-releasing means.



P. PEEL.

ANIMAL RELEASING MEANS. AiPLIOATION FILED KAY 16. 1910.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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I oz 1 PETER PEEL, 0F SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.

ANIMAL-RELEASING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Application filed May 16, 1910. Serial No. 561,774.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER PEEL, a citizen of the United States, residingat Salinas, in the county of Monterey and State of Callfornia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Releasing Means,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to anlmal releasing devices and has for itsprimary objectthe provision of improved instrumentalitles adapted undernormal condltlons to constitute a holder for the animal, but underabnormal conditions, as in case of fire, to be readily released topermit the anlmal to escape from its stall or place of confinement.

The invention comprehends an operating rod associated with a singlestall or common to a series of stalls in combination with devicesshiftable with the rod and keepers into which the fastening devices areshifted by the rod to substantially inclose the operatlng parts andlocking device in place under normal conditions.

The invention still further embraces in combination with a keeper, anactuating rod, and a fastening device shiftable with the rod intointerlocking engagement with the keeper, the rod and fastening devlcebelng so related that the rod will, when desired, withdraw the fasteningdevice entirely outside of the keeper and free the same.

More specifically the invention includes a shouldered actuating rod, aretaining device having an inner portion seated between the shoulders onthe rod to be shifted in both directions longitudinally of and by therod, and a slotted keeper into which the fastening device and shoulderedportions of the rod project, so that all of the parts are substantiallyconfined, a lug or projectlon of the fastening device extending throughthe slotted portion of the keeper for engagement by a ring to which ahalter may be fastened.

The details in construction and arrangement of the parts of my devicewill be apparent from the specific description hereinafter containedwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming parthereof, and wherein one convenient embodiment of the invention isillustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing a number of fasteningdevices associated with a single rod, Fig. 2 is an elevation of one ofthe keepers and a portion of the rod withdrawn showing themanner inwhich the fastening device falls from the rod, Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view through one of the keepers, Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the means normally locking the rod against movement,and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through one of the keepers longitudinallyof the rod.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Arepresents the head end ofa stall to which my improvements are applied,although it will be clear that the invention is applicable in otherpositions and to other portions of a stall or stable construction.

B are a series of keepers detachably and adjustably secured in placethrough the medium of screws 6 so that thesame may be disposed atdesired positions along the actuating rod 0. p

The keeper comprises a casting slotted as at D for a portion' of itswidth and opening forwardly, as shown, the slot leading interiorly to anenlarged pocket or recess E adjoining a bearing F in the side wall f ofthe keeper, through which the rod passes. On the rod, I provide enlargedportions which I may properly style spool-like seats G, having thecurved intermediate portion 9 and opposite end flanges 9. These seatsmay be disposed at any desired points along the rod to correspond to thedisposition of the keepers through the medium of removable pins Hpassing through the same and into the rod.

J represents the fastening devices, each comprising a curved base oryoke h adapted to fit the intermediate portion of the seat Gr and of alength to adjoin the end flanges of the seat whereby to be shifted inopposite directions by the engagement of the shouldered portionstherewith. Intermediate of the flanges of the base or yoke, a straightlug or flange 7" projects outwardlytherefrom, the same being. of athickness to closely fit the slotted portion of the keeper whereby to beprevented from lateral movement thereof when in place, a ring or otherattaching element K being carried by said lug.

It will be appreciated that when the spoollike seat is thrust inwardlywith the fastening device in place thereon, the same will besubstantially confined within the keeper and the device will be devoidof objectionable projections, simply the extreme end of the intermediateflange or lug being eX- posed without the slot of the keeper. Thisaffords a neat and efficient fastening to restrain the animal under allnormal condi tions, but upon withdrawing the seat the fastening devicewill be bodily shifted out side of the keeper and permitted to fall fromplace to release the animal, as is clearly indicated in the drawings,this being facili tated by reason of the rounding of the intermediateportion 9 of the seat. Obviously, the curved surface receding upwardlyand inwardly prevents the fastening device from hanging onto the seat,and correspondingly insures its immediate release and fall therefrom byforce of gravity.

Any suitable means may be employed for shifting the rod, that preferablyutilized comprising a hand lever K pivoted at 76 to the wall A and at cto the rod C, the upper end of the lever working within a bracket L alsosecured to the wall and normally held against movement by a gravityactuated dog or latch M hinged at m to one end of the bracket L andengaging the notched portion L" of the lever, as is obvious.

W hile I have herein disclosed one embodiment of the invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable ofembodiment in other forms and devices.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a slotted keeperhaving a pocket on its interior opening to the slot, a fasten ing devicehaving a base portion and a projecting portion adapted to enter theslot, an actuating rod, and a seat on said rod for the base portion ofthe fastening device, said seat having a portion adapted to engage thesaid base portion to carry the same out of the pocket of the keeper,substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a slotted keeperhaving a pocket on its interior opening to the slot, a fastening devicehaving a base portion and a projecting portion adapted to enter theslot, an actuating rod, and a seat on said rod for the base portion ofthe fastening device, said seat having portions adapted to engage thesaid base portion to carry the same out of the pocket of the keeper, andto retain the base portion in the keeper, substantially as described.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a slotted keeperhaving a pocket on its interior opening to the slot, a fastening devicehaving a base portion and a projecting portion adapted to enter theslot, an actuating rod, and a seat on said rod for the base portionofthe fastening device adapted to engage the latter to shift the sameinto and out of the pocket of the keeper, said seat having flanged endsand the base portion of the fastening device being flanged to seatbetween said ends and be engaged thereby.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a slotted keeperhaving a pocket on its interior opening to the slot, a fasten ing devicehaving a base portion and a projecting portion adapted to enter theslot, an actuating rod, and a seat on said rod for the base portion ofthe fastening device adapted to engage the latter to shift the same intoand out of the pocket of the keeper, said seat having flanged ends andthe base portion of the fastening device being flanged to seat betweensaid ends and be engaged thereby, the intermediate portion of the seatbeing curved transversely and the flanged base correspondingly curved.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a slotted keeperhaving a pocket on its interior opening to the slot, a fastening devicehaving a base portion and a projecting portion adapted to enter theslot, an actuating rod, and a seat on said rod for the base portion ofthe fastening device adapted to engage the latter to shift the same intoand out of the pocket of the keeper, said seat having flanged ends andthe base portion of the fastening device being flanged to seat betweensaid ends and be engaged thereby, the intermediate portion of the seatbeing curved transversely and the flanged base correspondingly curved inopposite directions.

6. In a device of the character described, a slotted keeper having apocket on its interior and a fastening device operatively associatedtherewith. having a base portion adapted to fit said pocket and aprojecting port-ion adapted to enter the slot, in combination with meansfor forcing the fastening device from the slotted keeper whereby thesame will fall freely therefrom.

'7. In a device of the'character described, a slotted keeper having apocket on its interior and a fastening device operatively associat-edtherewith having a base portion adapted to fit said pocket and aprojecting portion adapted to enter the slot, in combination with meanswithin the keeper adapted to engage the fastening device to force thesame from the slotted keeper and clear of associated parts whereby thesame will fall freely therefrom, said releasing means being adapted inpart to cooperate with the keeper in confining the fastening meansagainst release.

8. In a device of the character described,

a keeper open at one end, a fastening device I In testimony whereof Iaflix my signaadapteii to be inserted in said{ keeper, and ture inpresence of two Witnesses.

a shou dered rod Wit in sai eeper engaging the fastening device to holdthe same PETER PEEL in the keeper and adapted to forcibly ejectWitnesses:

the fastening device out of the end of the CALVIN T. MILANs,

keeper and clear of associated parts. GRACE A. MARVIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

